Trimble 6848090 User Manual

User Guide

Trimble

®

SNB900

Radio-Modem

Version 1.0
Revision B
May 2005



Contact Information

Trimble Navigation Limited
Geomatics and Engineering Division
5475 Kellenburger Road
Dayton, Ohio 45424-1099
USA

[phone] Phone
[phone] Fax
www.trimble.com

Copyright and Trademarks

© 2005, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved.
Trimble and the Globe & Triangle logo are trademarks of

Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. CMR,
CMR+, MS750, SiteNet, TRIMCOMM, and TRIMMARK are
trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited.

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

Release Notice

This is the May 2005 release (Revision B) of the Trim ble
SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide. It applies to version 1.0 of

the Trimble SNB900 radio-modem.
The following limited warranties give you specific legal

rights. You may have others, which vary from
state/jurisdiction to state/jurisdiction.

Hardware Limited Warranty

Trimble Navigation Limited warrants that this hardware
product (the “Product”) will perform substantially in
accordance with published specifications and be
substantially free of defects in material and workmanship for
a period of one (1) year starting from the date of delivery. The
warranty set forth in this paragraph shall not apply to
software products.

Software License, Limited Warranty

This Trimble software product, whether provided as a stand­alone computer software product, built into hardware
circuitry as firmware, embedded in flash memory, or stored
on magnetic or other media, (the “Software”) is licensed and
not sold, and its use is governed by the terms of the relevant
End User License Agreement (“EULA”) included with the
Software. In the absence of a separate EULA included with
the Software providing different limited warranty terms,
exclusions and limitations, the following terms and
conditions shall apply. Trimble warrants that this Trimble
Software product will substantially conform to Trimble’s
applicable published specifications for the Software for a
period of one (1) year, starting from the date of delivery.

Warranty Remedies

Trimble's sole liability and your exclusive remedy under the
warranties set forth above shall be, at Trimble’s option, to
repair or replace any Product or Software that fails to
conform to such warranty ("Nonconforming Product") or
refund the purchase price paid by you for any such

Nonconforming Product, upon your return of any
Nonconforming Product to Trimble in accordance with
Trimble’s standard return material authorization procedures.

Warranty Exclusions and Disclaimer

These warranties shall be applied only in the event and to the
extent that (i) the Products and Software are properly and
correctly installed, configured, interfaced, maintained,
stored, and operated in accordance with Trimble's relevant
operator's manual and specifications, and; (ii) the Products
and Software are not modified or misused. The preceding
warranties shall not apply to, and Trimble shall not be
responsible for defects or performance problems resulting
from (i) the combination or utilization of the Product or
Software with hardware or software products, information,
data, systems, interfaces or devices not made, supplied or
specified by Trimble; (ii) the operation of the Product or
Software under any specification other than, or in addition
to, Trimble's standard specifications for its products; (iii) the
unauthorized, installation, modification, or use of the
Product or Software; (iv) damage caused by accident,
lightning or other electrical discharge, fresh or salt water
immersion or spray; or (v) normal wear and tear on
consumable parts (e.g., batteries). Trimble does not warrant
or guarantee the results obtained through the use of the
Product.

THE WARRANTIES ABOVE STATE TRIMBLE'S ENTIRE
LIABILITY, AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES, RELATING TO
PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE.
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, THE
PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE, AND ACCOMPANYING
DOCUMENTATION AND MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS”
AND WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY
KIND BY EITHER TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED OR
ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ITS CREATION,
PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION , OR DISTRIBUTION
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
THE STATED EXPRESS
OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES ON THE PART OF TRIMBLE
ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY PRODUCTS
OR SOFTWARE. SOME STATES AND JURISDICTIONS DO NOT
ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON DURATION OR THE EXCLUSION OF
AN IMPLIED WARRANTY, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY
NOT APPLY TO YOU.

TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE OPERATION OR FAILURE OF OPERATION OF GPS
SATELLITES OR THE AVAILABILITY OF GPS SATELLITE
SIGNALS.

WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ALL

Limitation of Liability

TRIMBLE’S ENTIRE LIABILITY UNDER ANY PROVISION
HEREIN SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU
FOR THE PRODUCT OR SOFTWARE LICENSE. TO THE
MAXIM UM EXTENT PERMITTED B Y APPLICABL E LAW, IN NO
EVENT SHALL TRIMBLE OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES WHATSOEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE OR
LEGAL THEORY RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE PRODUCTS,
SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION AND
MATERIALS, (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION , LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION , OR ANY
OTHER PECUNI ARY LOSS), REGARDLESS WHETHE R TRIMBLE
HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH LOSS

AND REGARDLESS OF THE COURSE OF DEALING WHICH
DEVELOPS OR HAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN YOU AND
TRIMBLE. BECAUSE SOME STATES AND JURISDICTIONS DO
NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE
ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

NOTE: THE ABOVE LIMITED WARRANTY PROVISIONS MAY
NOT APPLY TO PRODUCTS OR SOFTWARE PURCHASED IN
THE EUROPEAN UNION.
TRIMBLE DEALER FOR APPLICABLE WARRANTY
INFORMATION.

Notices

Class B Statement – Notice to Users. This
equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules, and Part 90
of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communication. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the equipment and the

receiver.

– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit

different from that to which the receiver is connected.

– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician

for help.
Changes and modifications not expressly approved by the
manufacturer or registrant of this equipment can void your
authority to operate this equipment under Federal
Communications

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR

Before operating these radio-modems, users are
legally required to obtain frequency licenses, as
required by the country-of-use. Please contact your
local communications governing agency for the
licensing requirements for each of these radio­modems.

Safety

You must maintain a minimum separation distance of 21 cm
(approximately 8in) between yourself and the radiating
antenna for this device to satisfy the RF Exposure
requirements of the FCC and Industry Canada. The antenna
may not be co-located with any other transmitting device.
For mobile operation, the maximum gain of the antenna
must not exceed 5 dBi.

Trimble and the Environment

For product recycling instructions and more information,
please go to www.trimble.com/environment/summary.html.

Europe

To recycle Trimble WEEE (Waste from
Electrical and Electronic Equipment), do one of
the following:

– call [phone], and ask for the WEEE

Associate

– mail a request to:

Trimble Europe BV
c/o Menlo Worldwide Logistics
Meerheide 455521 DZ Eersel, NL

Taiwan - Battery Recycling Requirements

The product contains a removable Lithium-Ion
battery. Taiwanese regulations require that
waste batteries are recycled.

Declaration of Conformity (Canada)

Company name Trimble Navigation Limited

Company number 1756

Company address Trimble Geomatics and Engineering Division

Model number SNB900

Specification code 1756A-48480

Specification RSS210

Issue 3

Band 650KG1D

Power 0.832 watt

From frequency 902.6 MHz

To fr eq u en c y 927.6 MHz

5475 Kellenburger Road
Dayton, Ohio 45424-1099
USA

800-538-7800 (toll free in USA)
[phone] Phone
[phone] Fax

Safety

Safety 1

1.1

Warnings and Cautions

Always observe safety instructions that are presented in the following
format:

C

C

1.2 Battery Safety

C

WARNING – A Warning alerts you to a possible hazard or unsafe practice

that could result in serious injury or property damage. A Warning
describes how to protect people and/or equipment from this risk.

CAUTION – A Caution alerts you to a possible risk of damage to the
equipment and/or loss of data. A Caution describes how to protect the
equipment and/or data from this risk.

WARNING – Do not damage the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. A

damaged battery can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in personal
injury and/or property damage.
To prevent injury or damage:

- Do not use or charge the battery if it appears to be damaged. Signs of
damage include, but are not limited to, discoloration, warping, and
leaking battery fluid.

- Do not expose the battery to fire, high temperature, or direct sunlight.

- Do not immerse the battery in water. /

- Do not use or store the battery inside a vehicle during hot weather.

- Do not drop or puncture the battery.

- Do not open the battery or short-circuit its contacts.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide v

Safety

C

C

WARNING – Avoid contact with the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery if it

appears to be leaking. Battery fluid is corrosive, and contact with it can
result in personal injury and/or property damage.
To prevent injury or damage:

- If the battery leaks, avoid contact with the battery fluid.

- If battery fluid gets into your eyes, immediately rinse your eyes with
clean water and seek medical attention. Do not rub your eyes!

- If battery fluid gets onto your skin or clothing, immediately use clean
water to wash off the battery fluid.

WARNING – Charge and use the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery only in

strict accordance with the instructions. Charging or using the battery in
unauthorized equipment can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in
personal injury and/or equipment damage.
To prevent injury or damage:

- Do not charge or use the battery if it appears to be damaged or leaking.

- Charge the Lithium-ion battery only in a Trimble product that is specified
to charge it. Be sure to follow all instructions that are provided with the
battery charger.

- Discontinue charging a battery that gives off extreme heat or a burning
odor.

- Use the battery only in Trimble equipment that is specified to use it.

- Use the battery only for its intended use and according to the
instructions in the product documentation.

1.3 Disposing of the Battery

C

vi SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

WARNING – The SNB900 radio-modem contains a Lithium-ion battery

and should not be disposed of with general refuse. Dispose of the SNB900
radio-modem in accordance with all local codes and regulations for
products containing lithium ion batteries. Contact your local
environmental control or disposal agency for further details.

1.4 Battery Consumption

Safety

C

1.5 Installing Antennas

C

1.6 Operation and Storage

C

CAUTION – Turbo mode increases power consumption by approximately
20%. If you work in Turbo mode, the battery will run down faster.

CAUTION – For your own safety, and in terms of the RF Exposure
requirements of the FCC, always observe the precautions listed here.

-Always maintain a minimum separation distance of 21 cm (approximately
8 inches) between yourself and the radiating antenna on the SNB900
radio-modem.

- Do not co-locate the antenna with any other transmitting device.

- For mobile operation, do not allow the maximum gain of the antenna to
exceed 5 dBi.

CAUTION – Do not operate or store the SNB900 radio-modem outside the
temperature range specified. Doing so can damage the instrument.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide vii

Safety

viii SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

Contents

1 Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Battery Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Disposing of the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Battery Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Installing Antennas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Operation and Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Related Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Your Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Frequency Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Front Panel Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Selecting a menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Main menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Cables and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Additional parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Optional accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide ix

Contents

Use and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Use and care of the internal battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3 Configuration and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Configuring the SNB900 Radio-Modem Using the Front Panel Display . . . . 18

Status menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Network menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Mode menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Turbo Mode menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Port Configuration menu: LEMO Port Configuration and Modem Port

Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Display Configuration menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Configuring the SNB900 Radio-Modem Using the WinFlash Utility . . . . . . 26

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Upgrading the SNB900 Radio-Modem Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Installing the SNB900 Radio-Modem in the Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Important notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Installing the SNB900 radio-modem as a base. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Installing the SNB900 radio-modem as a repeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Installing the SNB900 radio-modem as a rover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Installing antennas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

4 Antenna Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Omni-Directional Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

SNB900 Radio-Modem Antenna Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Energy Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Status Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

x SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

CHAPTER

1

Introduction 1

In this chapter:

Q Welcome

Q Related Information

Q Technical Assistance

Q Your Comments

1.1 Welcome

This manual describes how to set up, install, and use a Trimble®
SNB900 radio-modem.

Even if you have used other radio-modems, Trimble recommends that
you read this manual to learn about the special features of the product.

B

Tip – For an interactive look at GPS, go to the Trimble website at

www.trimble.com.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide 1

1 Introduction

1.2 Related Information

Sources of related information include the following:

• Release notes

To read a summary of new and enhanced software features, read
about small changes to the documentation, and receive step-by­step instructions for installing the software, open the release
notes.

• Support page on the Trimble website

For additional information such as service bulletins and FAQs,
go to www.trimble.com/support.shtml. The website also has
related utility programs, firmware, and software patches that you
can download.

• Trimble training courses

Consider a training course to help you use this GPS system to its
fullest potential. For more information, go to the Trimble
website at www.trimble.com/training.shtml.

• Extended warranty

For information about extended warranty programs for
hardware and firmware, contact your local Trimble dealer.

1.3 Technical Assistance

If you cannot find the information you need, contact your local dealer.
Alternatively, do one of the following:

• Request technical support:

a. Go to www.trimble.com.

b. Click the

Support button at the top of the screen. The

Support A–Z list of products appears.

c. Scroll to the bottom of the list.

d. Click the

submit an inquiry link. A form appears.

e. Complete the form and then click

• Send an e-mail to [e-mail].

2 SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

Send.

1.4 Your Comments

Your feedback about the supporting documentation helps us to
improve it with each revision. Send an e-mail with your comments to
[e-mail].

Introduction 1

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide 3

1 Introduction

4 SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

CHAPTER

2

Getting Started 2

In this chapter:

Q Frequency Band

Q Features

Q Front Panel Display

Q Menus

Q Ports

Q Cables and Accessories

Q Use and Care

The rugged Trimble SNB900 radio-modem is packaged in a
weatherproof housing, making it ideal for harsh environments, such as
those associated with construction, seismic, and mining surveys. To
establish a robust wireless data broadcast network for real-time
differential and real-time kinematic GPS applications, use the versatile
SNB900 radio-modem with a Trimble GPS rover.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide 5

2 Getting Started

2.1 Frequency Band

The SNB900 radio-modem operates in the 902–928 MHz frequency
band. It is certified for unlicensed use in this band as a transmitter,
pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §§ 15.247, 15.249 (1993) (unlicensed, low-power
devices) Subpart C of Part 15 of FCC Rules regarding Spread Spectrum
Systems for the United States. License-free operation in Canada is
covered by RSS-210 of Industrie Canada.

The SNB900 radio-modem is available with a reduced frequency range
for use in Australia and New Zealand. It is available in single-frequency
mode for use in other countries.

Note – The 902–928 MHz band is a shared-use band and as such is
subject to interfering signals.

This frequency band is allocated to other uses, including cellular
telephony, in other parts of the world. Regulations regarding its use
vary greatly from country to country. Use of the radio-modem outside
the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand must be
approved by the local radio authority. Contact your local radio
communications governing authority for regulations and restrictions
on operation in the country or area where you want to use the SNB900.

2.2 Features

The SNB900 radio-modem has the following standard features:

• Frequency :

– 902–928 MHz in USA/Canada

– 921–928 MHz in New Zealand

– 916–928 MHz in Australia

– Single-frequency configuration for specific countries

• +30 dBm (1 Watt)

• Frequency hopping on 50 channels

6 SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

Getting Started 2

• High-speed wireless data rate

• Interfaces with Trimble survey-grade and construction-grade

GPS receivers

• Rugged, weatherproof construction

• Internal battery

• Two-line, 16-character VFD display

• Compatible with Trimble CMR+

• Operational parameters configured using the WinFlash utility, a

™

and RTCM SC-104

handheld controller, or the front panel

• Can be configured as a base, repeater, or rover

• Compatible with TRIMCOMM

™

900, SiteNet™ 900 and SNR900
external radios, and Trimble 5700 and 5800 internal 900 MHz
radios

Note – In this manual, CMR

™

and CMR+ formats are both represented by

CMR+.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide 7

2 Getting Started

2.3 Front Panel Display

The front panel of the SNB900 radio-modem (see Figure 2.1) has a
Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) that shows the network frequency
and radio status, as well as error messages.

Power LED

Power button

Figure 2.1 Front view of the SNB900 radio-modem

Front panel (display)

Down button

Up button

Logo showing location
of Bluetooth antenna

Next button

8 SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide

Getting Started 2

2.4 Menus

When you start the SNB900 radio-modem, the default Status menu
screen is displayed on the front panel. This screen shows a summary of
the radio-modem’s configuration settings.

24.1 Selecting a menu

To move to a different menu, press the  button on the front panel
display. To scroll through the available settings in a menu, press the Up
button

24.2 Main menus

or the Down button .



Ta bl e 2 .1 lists each main menu and describes its use.

Table 2.1 Main menus

Use this menu ... To ... For details, see ...

Status View information about the operation of the

radio.

Network Select an operating network for the radio-

modem. Each network has a unique hopping
pattern to help reduce interference from nearby
radio transmitters.

Mode Specify whether the radio-modem is to operate

as a base, a rover, or as one of up to four
repeaters.

Turbo Mode Enable or disable Turbo mode. Use Turbo mode

in areas of high RF interference to improve
performance.

Port Config
LEMO Port Config
Modem Port Config

Display Config Configure when the display will power down. page 25

Configure the settings for two of the ports that
are on the back of the radio-modem (the seven­pin LEMO port and the 26-pin Modem port).

page 18

page 22

page 22

page 23

page 24

Note – The radio-modem unit settings determine which menus are
available.

SNB900 Radio-Modem User Guide 9